Spike puller



May 29,1934. G. w. JOHNSON SPIKE FULLER Filed Feb. 16, 1933 eozlgeJoiz'ow.

Patented May' 29, 1934 Istres.

Price SPIKE FULLER.

George W. Johnson, Canton, (ihio, assigner to The Bowdil Company,Bowdil, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 16, 1933,Serial No. 657,137

11 Claims.

This invention relates to spike pullers and has for its object toprovide a comparatively sime `ple and inexpensive device of thischaracter yembodying in its structure a rocking iulcrum whereby toincrease the leverage and permit extraction of a spike from a cross tieor other support with greater facility and less exertion on the part ofthe operator than heretofore.

A further object is to provide a spike puller having a claw detachablysecured in Vposition on the head of the implement so as to permit theready removal thereof to facilitate dressing when necessary orreplacement by claws of different sizes according to the size of thespike or other fastening to be extracted.

A further object is to provide a hand tool of this character theconstruction of which is such that a spike may be quickly pulled orextracted without the necessity of the operator bending over the workand in which the extracting claws are relatively small and made of highgrade steel so as to increase the eiiective life of the tool.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve thisclass of devices so as to increase their utility, durability andemciency.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spike puller constructed in accordancewith the present invention and showing in full lines a claw positionedover a spike and in dotted lines the position assumed by the parts whenthe tool is rocked on its iulcrum to pull the spike.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the head of the implement andits associated parts.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ci Figure2.

Figure 4; is a bottom plan view of Figure 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the draw- The improved spike puller forming the subjectmatter of the present invention comprises a hollow cylindrical head 5preferably formed of metal and of any desired length and cross secntional diameter, said head being provided with an upstanding boss 6 theinterior walls of which are threaded at 7 and adapted to engage thecorrespondingly threaded end 8 of an operating lever 9. The lever 9 ispreferably cast or otherwise formed with longitudinal strengthening ribsl0 and terminates at its outer free end in a smooth portion constitutinga handle 1l. The

' head 5 isprcvided with oppositely disposed seating recesses 12 inwhich is detachably tted a removable claw indicated at 13.- This claw 13is relatively small so as to permit the claw to be made of high gradesteel at very little additional cost and the opposite ends of the claw(Cl. 25d-25) are curved or deilected upwardly to form curved terminalsi4 having seats l5 and 16 formed therein and adapted to receive a spikeindicated at l'. The lower surface of the head 5 constitutes a iul- Crumi3 on which the implement is rocked in the act or pulling or extractinga spike and irnmediately above the fulcrurn 18 the head is provided witha flat bearing surface i9 preferably disposed at a slight angle to thehorizontal axis of the head, as shown. the claw i3, where it rests onthe fiat surface i9, is cut away to form oppositely disposed shoulders20 which bear against the exterior wall of the head and serve tc centerthe claw within said head. The upper surface of the claw is preferablyformed with a shallow concave socket 2l and the recesses 12 are slightlylarger than the thickness of the claw so as to permit the claw to beinserted within the head from either side thereof. That portion of theoperating lever immediately below the threads 8 terminates in a smoothcylindrical extension 22, the lower face oi' which is convex and isadapted to enter the concave seat 21 whereby when the lever 9 isrotated, the convex end of the extension 22 will bear against the clawand rmly clamp said claw within the head. A nut 23 engages the threads 8on the lever and bears against the adjacent end of the boss 6 forlocking the lever against rotation after said lever has been adjusted toclamp the claw within the head.

The lever 9 is preferably of suflicient length to permit the operator toposition the claw over a spike and extract the saine without thenecessity of bending over the work and thus permits the I f extractionof a spike with very little exertion on the part of the operator. Thespike engaging seat 16 is preferably larger than the seat l5 so as topermit the tool to be used for extracting spikes of different sizes andinasmuch as the claw i3 is jon a cross tie when pulling or extracting aspike 1 therefrom.

In operation, the implement is positioned adjacent the spike to beextracted with the head of the spike seated in either one of the seats15 or The lower surface oi l" 16, as shown in full lines in Figure 1 ofthe drawing. The handle 11 is then pulled rearwardly to the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 1, which causes the fulcrum 18 to rock on thecross tie or other support and lift or extract the spike therefrom. If alarger spike is to be extracted,

the claw 13 may be readily removed by releasing the clamping nut 23 androtating the lever 9 until the cylindrical extension 22 is disengagedfrom the claw when, by elevating the claw slightly to permit theshoulders 20 to clear the head 5, said claw may be readily removed fromthe head from either side thereof through the adjacent seating recess12. n tting a new claw to the head it is merely necessary to reverse theoperation, that is to say, insert the claw within the head througheither recess 12 and position the shoulders 20 over the adjacent wall ofthe head and then rotate the lever until the extension 22 enters thesocket 21, when the claw will be firmly clamped in position on the headand in which position it may be rigidly supported by adjusting the nut23. With a tool constructed in this manner, a plurality of claws may bekept in stock and a desired claw selected from the stock and inserted inthe head according to the work to be performed. Therefore the head andits associated parts may be used for an indefinite period as the onlypart which needs renewal is the Claw. 1t will, of course, be understoodthat the tool may be made in diierent sizes and shapes and constructedof any suitable material without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what l'. claim is:

l. An implement of the class described cornprising a substantiallycylindrical head, a reversible claw detachably secured on the head, ahandle threaded through the head and engaging the claw for securing theclaw in position thereon, and means carried by the claw and engaging thehead for preventing lateral displacement of said claw.

2. An implement of the class described comprising a hollow substantiallycylindrical head having oppositely disposed recesses formed therein, aremovable extracting claw seated in said recesses, an operating handlethreaded in the head and bearing against the claw for clamping the clawin position on the head, and means on the claw engaging the head at therecesses therein for preventing lateral displacement or" said claw.

3. An implement of the class described comprising a hollow substantiallycylindrical head having oppositely disposed recesses formed thereadetachable claw fitted in said recesses and provided with spacedshoulders bearing against the head, and an operating handle having athreaded portion extending within the head and bearing against the clawfor clamping the claw in position on the head.

4. An implement of the class described comprising a substantiallycylindrical head, a removable extracting claw seated in the head andhaving its opposite ends curved upwardly. lower curved portion of thehead between said upwardly curved portions constituting a fulcrum, anoperating lever extending within the head and bearing against the clawfor detachably securing the claw in position on the head, and meansindependent of the lever ior preventing lateral displacement of the clawwithin the head.

.5. An implement of the class described comprising a head, the lowerportion of which is curved and constitutes a ulcrum, a removableextracting claw tting within and extending transversely of the head, anoperating lever threaded in the head and bearing against the claw forclamping the claw in position on the head, and means on the clawcoacting with the head for preventing lateral displacement of said claw.

6. An implement of the class described comprising a hollow cylindricalhead having an internally threaded boss projecting therefrom, aremovable claw carried by the head and extending transversely thereofand having its upper surface provided with a socket, and an operatinghandle having its lower end threaded in the boss and provided with aterminal convex end adapted to iit within the socket and clamp the clawin position on the head.

7. An implement of the class described comprising a hollow cylindricalhead having oppositely disposed recesses formed therein and providedwith a threaded boss, a detachable claw carried by the head andremovable therefrom through either recess, an operating handle having athreaded portion engaging the threads in the boss and bearing againstthe claw for clamping the claw in position on the head, and a nutengaging the threads on the operating handle and bearing against theboss.

8. An implement of the class described comprising a hollow cylindricalhead provided with oppositely disposed recesses and having its lowerportion provided with a dat bearing surface disposed at an angle to thehorizontal axis of the head, a removable claw having a lat lower surfaceengaging the flat bearing surface and dening oppositely disposed stopshoulders for contact with tl e head, and an operating handle threadedin the head and having its lower portion bearing against the ciaw forsecuring said claw in position on the head.

9. An implement of the class described comprising a hollow cylindricalhead having oppositely disposed recesses termed therein, a detachableclaw seated in said recesses and having its opposite ends deectedupwardly and previded with lower curved surfaces, the exterior surfaceof the head between said ends forming a continuation of said lowercurved surfaces and constituting a ulcrum, and an operating handleextending within the head and bearing against the claw for detachablysecuring the claw in position on the head.

l0. An implement o1 the class described comprising a head having acylindrical portion constituting a rocking fulcrum, an extracting clawremovably iitted within the head and provided with spaced shoulders, andan operating handle extending within the head and bearing against theclaw for clamping the shoulders in engagement with the head.

il. An implement of the class described comprising a hollow head havinga cylindrical portion constituting a iulcrum and provided with 1f.

oppositely disposed seating recesses, a removable extracting claw iittedwithin said recesses and provided with spaced shoulders deiiningterminal upwardly deiiected portions disposed on opposite sides of thefulcrum and having spike receiving seats formed therein, and anoperating handle threaded in the head and having a terminal portionadapted to bear against the claw and clamp said shoulders against thehead on opposite sides of the fulcrum.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON. [L.S.]

